As many of us are probably heading over the river and through the woods this weekend, let me be the first to wish everyone a happy holiday! May you enjoy yourselves with your family and loved ones. Cherish the moment, and when you get back, let me know what you all had for dinner. :p

Peace.

Greetings Jafo,

May your Christmas be filled with all the love, warmth, and joy this hoilday season brings! And here's hoping that 2008 will find you and yours prosperous, happy, and healthy!

Happy Holidyas, Cathy

P.S. Went out and bought all the great "Munchies" for entertaining and snacking last night, can't wait just today & tomorrow then off for 5 wonderful days!!! CHEERS

Yeah, I am off to the grocery store in the next hour or so to get the xmas ham, and the rest of xmas eve dinner..

The last few xmas eve dinners were rather extravagant, this year I want it to be a bit more rustic. I think I will go with the traditional glazed fresh ham, whole roasted green beans, PLAIN OLD baked potatoes, and maybe another vegetable side.

The reason I capped the potatoes is, every year we seem to try to make some crazy mashed concoction, or twice stuffed, or roasted with this or that. I think for once, I am just going to make plain old baked potatoes, with butter, sour cream, and chives.

Maybe it is just me, but this year I just want a traditional xmas dinner without all the frills of the latest recipes. I mean, if you have been watching the Food Network this week, it is amazing what these chefs are putting out for the holiday programs. I cannot imagine throwing a turduckin on the table, much less stuffed squid, or oysters for xmas eve dinner.

Well, if you want to be really and truly technical, a traditional Christmas dinner would include a roast goose. And certain specified sides.

But who really cares? Plain or simple, it's the idea that matters: dinner with the family to celebrate the season of peace and joy.

And, to quote that widely acclaimed reconteur, Tiny Tim.....

God bless us, everyone!

Yeah, Christmas goose to me is more of an English tradition. I saw a lot of it for sale today in the supermarket.

I ended up getting a hickory smoked roast with the bone in (leg), and plan on using a home made glaze:

• 1 1/4 cups packed dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup pineapple juice
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 large orange, juiced and zested
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Boil & reduce for about 10 minutes and glaze during the last 45 minutes.

I decided on roasted green beans with garlic and red onion for one side, and a grilled ratatouille side. Basically just onion, summer squash, some bell (red, yellow, green) peppers, cherry tomatoes, and some baby bellas in it too.

Baked potatoes as I said before, and I will probably make up some sort of gravy from the drippings, and left over glaze..

Haven't even thought about desert yet, I figured we will just pick something up that day from the bakery.